Sourcing stainless half-round bars from China
Stainless steel half-round bars from China have listed UK duty rates of 0% to 50%, depending on their manufacturing condition. Confirm the non-circular bar code from the production process and nickel content, rather than the supplier's product name. Cambridge China Bridge sources stainless steel half-round bars.
Duty depends on how the half-round bar is made
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 2 October 2026, heading 7222 covers other stainless steel bars and rods, angles, shapes and sections. This guide concerns solid half-round bars with a flat face and curved back. The table selects non-circular bar lines for hot-worked and cold-finished material. See the wider stainless steel bars guide for other profiles.
The supplied tariff extract lists 0% for the hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded non-circular bar lines and 50% for the cold-formed or cold-finished non-circular bar lines. It records no separate anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control for these selected lines. The wider guide describes quota relief for cold-finished bars; confirm availability with your broker before relying on it.
Confirm the commodity code using the cross-section drawing, manufacturing route and mill chemistry. Bars machined from round stock or further worked beyond the table descriptions need a separate classification check. Include freight and import VAT in the landed-cost calculation using the duty and VAT guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot-worked stainless half-round bars, nickel content 2.5% or more | 7222 19 10 00 | 0% | None |
| Hot-worked stainless half-round bars, nickel content below 2.5% | 7222 19 90 00 | 0% | None |
| Cold-formed or cold-finished stainless half-round bars, nickel 2.5% or more | 7222 20 81 00 | 50% | None |
| Cold-formed or cold-finished stainless half-round bars, nickel below 2.5% | 7222 20 89 00 | 50% | None |
Specify the flat face and curved profile
Send a cross-section drawing showing flat-face width, overall height, curved profile and permitted edge rounding. State tolerances separately for width and height, together with length, straightness and twist. Agree whether the flat face must sit flush against a mating surface and whether the curved face is visible after installation.
Specify the stainless grade, delivery condition and manufacturing route. Distinguish a rolled or drawn half-round profile from round bar split and subsequently machined. Agree the finish on both faces, polishing direction, cut-end condition and protective wrapping. Ask for a mill inspection certificate showing heat number, chemistry and mechanical properties, and link each bundle to its heat.
For UK sanctions checks, traders should be prepared to provide supply-chain documentation consistent with the applicable prohibitions. Ask the supplier to identify the source mill and retain supporting material records. Use factory verification to check whether the supplier makes the profile or buys and finishes it.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative trial batch of hot-rolled stainless steel half-round bars for a fabrication workshop under 7222 19 10 00, invoiced at £4,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £6,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £6,000, so it is £1,200. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Material: match bundle markings and heat numbers to mill certificates, and arrange sampled grade verification rather than relying on appearance.
Profile: measure flat-face width, overall height and length along sampled bars; check the curved profile against the agreed drawing.
Fit: check straightness, twist and flat-face seating against the intended mating surface or an agreed inspection fixture.
Finish and packing: inspect both faces for seams, scratches and embedded contamination; check cut ends, protective wrapping and separation between polished bars.
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What goes wrong
A supplier quotes a nominal round-bar diameter without defining the finished half-round width and height. The delivered profile then sits proud, rocks on its flat face or fails to match adjacent pieces. Agree a drawing and retain an approved sample showing the actual profile and finish.
Other failures include mixed grades, certificates that do not match the delivered heat, polishing that rounds the edges excessively and scratched curved faces from loose bundling. A hot-worked quotation can also conceal later cold finishing, changing the tariff line. Check the actual process and arrange quality inspection before shipment.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on stainless steel half-round bars from China?
The supplied tariff data lists 0% for hot-worked non-circular bars and 50% for cold-formed or cold-finished non-circular bars. Confirm the production process and nickel content before choosing the code.
Which commodity code covers stainless steel half-round bars?
Candidate lines are 7222 19 10 00 and 7222 19 90 00 for hot-worked bars, or 7222 20 81 00 and 7222 20 89 00 for cold-finished bars. Nickel content selects the sub-line; further machining needs a separate check.
What dimensions should I specify for half-round bar?
Specify flat-face width, overall height, curved profile, edge rounding and length. Add width and height tolerances, straightness, twist and any requirement for the flat face to seat flush.
How do I check the stainless grade on arrival?
Match heat numbers on the bundles to the mill certificates and arrange sampled material testing. Check chemistry against the ordered grade; a polished surface does not establish the grade.